Fischer Random Chess

Board | Pieces | Description | History | Strategy | Back to Index

Board

The image below shows an example starting position. There are 960 possible starting positions for this game.

Pieces

King

A King can move to any adjacent square, but never to a square where it can be captured.


Queen

A Queen moves any number of squares in a straight line. It may not leap over other pieces.


Rook

A Rook moves any number of squares orthogonally on a rank or a file. It may not leap over other pieces.


Knight

A Knight moves like an `L`, two squares vertically plus one horizontally, or two squares horizontally plus one vertically. It hops over any pieces on the way.


Bishop

A Bishop moves any number of squares on a diagonal. It may not leap over other pieces.


Pawn

A Pawn can move straight ahead one square, or two squares from its starting position. A Pawn captures by moving one square ahead and diagonally. On rare occasions Pawns can also execute a move called `En Passant`, or `in passing`. This allows a Pawn to take an enemy Pawn that has just moved two squares.

Upon reaching eighth rank, Pawns promote to any piece.


Description

The opening setup for Pawns is the same as in normal Chess.

The opening setup for the officers on the first and last rows is chosen randomly while satisfying the following conditions:

  • The King must be placed somewhere between the Rooks.
  • The two Bishops must start on squares of different colors.
  • The Black setup mirrors the White setup, i.e. pieces on the same file are of the same type. For example, if there is a White Queen on a1, there is a Black Queen on a8.
  • White castles in the following way (the Black procedure is equivalent). When castling left (O-O-O) , the King moves to c1 and the Rook moves to d1. When castling right (O-O) the King moves to g1 and the Rook moves to f1. The following conditions must be true: the King must not move to, from or over an attacked square; the King and Rook have never moved; there is no other piece on any square over which the King and Rook move.

Note that if the King starts the game on a castling destination square (c or g), castling on that side is done by moving the Rook instead of the King.

History

Fischer Random Chess was invented by former World Chess champion Bobby Fischer. He announced the rules in June 1996 in Argentina.

This version for the Zillions-of-Games engine was implemented by Pierre Tourigny in September 1999.

Strategy

The only difference between normal Chess and Fischer Random Chess is in the opening phase. Even there, normal Chess principles apply: control or occupy the center; develop your pieces harmoniously before attacking; keep your King safe by castling early; develop to a plan.

There are also differences to keep in mind: are there undefended pawns in the opening line-up that can be attacked or must be defended; what is the safest castling side? is there a best attacking side?

General priciples and the unique aspects of the random pick out of the 960 possible setups will shape your opening plan.

More information on Fischer Random Chess can be found at http://www.chessvariants.com/diffsetup.dir/fischer.html.